“Where is it you’re from? I mean…with the kilt get up, I already assumed Scotland.”
“Aye, I am the MacLaine of Moy. Tis on the Isle of Mull, lass and there is not a more breathtaking place on this Earth.”
“Ah yes, the laird. How could I forget?” It sounded like tiny bells ringing as she gave a light laugh at his expense.
“Aye. Tis glad I am that ye are keeping up finally.” The twinkle in his eye, told her he teased her.
The thought of him and his huge sword, ruling over a large clan was a bit of an intimidation. “You don’t…you know…” She motioned with a hand across her neck indicating a mock beheading. “when you get tired of them, do you?”
When he tossed back his head and filled the entire room with his boisterous laughter, she reddened.
“Ah lass, I think your mistaken me for King Henry. My people do not fear me, but I would not mislead ye. In a battle, I have cleaved a man’s head from his shoulders. Tis the way of things in my time.”
“What year is it where you’re from?” He heard of Henry the VIII, so he was at least from the 16th century.
“When I was sent here the year was Sixteen Hundred and Ninety.”
They sipped at their cocoa in silence for a few moments, as she examined the detailed craftsmanship on the hilt of the giant weapon, as it lay across the table. It was incredible. It looked as long as her in length and she was sure it was extremely heavy. Could she even lift it? Just as Ian was taking a sip of his drink, she blurted out “Can I touch it?”
He must have misinterpreted her question, inhaled a marshmallow, and choked. Taking Ian’s mug, she placed it on the table and pounded his back until the coughing fit ceased.
“I meant can I touch your claymore.” She rolled her eyes. “It looks heavy.”
“Aye.” Caroline watched in amazement, as he lifted the weapon as though it weighed no more than a child’s toy. A low hum filled the room as he slid the sword from its sheath, was eerily soothing to her soul. As he placed it across her lap, he said. “Be careful, lass. Tis verra sharp.”
For several moments, Caroline sat and admired the details on the hilt even closer. She ran her hand over the Latin inscription etched in the hilt. Vincere vel mori. “What does this mean?” Not wanting to even attempt to pronounce it she pointed to the foreign words.
Ian leaned toward her. A thick, muscular thigh brushed against her bare leg. The slight touch was enough to warm her insides. As he spoke the words his warm breath caressed along her ear and cheek. “It is our clan motto. To conquer or die.”
Caroline let out a shaky breath, but didn’t know if it was from the power of the words he had spoken or having him so close. She swallowed. “You guys take your fighting pretty serious.”
Ian sat back and pressed his back into the arm of the sofa. “Aye. A man’s land and clan are everything to him and those he has sworn to protect.”
Caroline nodded and went back to admiring the sword. The hilt was set with a wheel pommel capped by a crescent-shaped nut and a guard with straight, forward-sloping arms and ended in a clover like design. The worn brown leather tightly wrapped around its hilt spoke of the amount of use.
If Ian was truly from the past, this was the real thing. This weapon had seen real battles and death to protect his clan and those he cared for. Caroline knew firsthand the latter was true. A cold shiver shot down her spine as the image of a man lying in a pool of his own blood came forth again. Her former thought hit her as though an icy bucket of water slapped her in the face. Was it possible this man cared for her, or was it only his honor that spurred his action tonight? The thought of casting aside all the loneliness she lived with for the last six months, it was impossible to hold back tears of hope. A lone tear trailed down her cheek and disappeared under Caroline’s chin. The weight of her burdens and anxieties lifted, and she became overwhelmed by her strong desire to live, to feel alive.
“Have you killed many people?” She already knew what the answer would be, but asked just the same.
“Aye. It is the way of it in a battle and leading a clan, Caroline. I do what is necessary to care for those under my rule. If I must kill to protect…I will not hesitate to run a man threw.”
“Ye mean like tonight…in the alley?” Deep down she wanted to hear his deep “aye” hoping to confirm he felt the draw between the two of them, as well.
Ian placed his thumb and forefinger under her chin, and Caroline lifted her head and met his fiery gaze. It mirrored the hunger that burned within hers as well. The feel of his fingers running through her hair caused a tingling sensation to course through her body. Once again, she found his lips upon her own. What was this undeniable pull between them? As he deepened the mind-numbing kiss, his large hands cupped the back of her head. Her thoughts were lost when he slipped his tongue into the hotness of her mouth and sent shivers of desire through her veins. Soon she found herself returning the motion in kind. One of her hands was upon his bare chest, and she felt a rumble, as he released a low growl at her response. His lips were warm and sweet, and her own eager response shocked her.
Never breaking their kiss, Ian pulled her onto his lap, as the tiny hairs at the back of her neck rose Caroline felt the rock hard proof of his desire. Their tongues touched and she moaned her own need rising. He captured the sound within his own mouth. With his free hand, he began to caress the length of her body starting at her hip, and worked his way to her chest. As he cupped her breast in his hand, she gasped at the heated sensation igniting her blood.
A loud knock rattled her front door. At the unexpected noise, she leaped off Ian’s lap. One glance at the clock on the wall opposite the sofa and she went into panic mode. A visitor at her door at one o’clock in the morning could only mean one thing. They had found the dead man in the alley.
Caroline could feel the rapid beat of her heart, as it escalated further and tiny orbs of light danced around the room. Each pull of air she tried to take never resulted in a cleansing breath. Within seconds, she hyperventilated. Panic-filled, she paced back and forth across the worn braided rug in the living room. Without a word, Ian stepped before her and placed his hands on her upper arms. Ian placed a finger to his lips, to silence her worries.
The second knock was louder and caused the old windows panes to rattle. “Caroline, it’s Sheriff Fredette.” His voice boomed on the other side of the door. Another knock and he called her name again. “Caroline are you in there?”
Chapter Thirteen
Her voice shook as she whispered. “I have to answer it, Ian. I’ve known him my whole life. If I don’t answer, he’ll know something is wrong.”
Ian nodded and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance. He grabbed his belongings, and pointed down the hall to indicate where he would be.
Caroline called out. “I’m coming.”
After she was sure, Ian was out of sight, she took a deep breath, mussed up her hair and put on a sleepy look. Caroline hated to lie, but she wouldn’t let them take Ian away from her, especially when all he did was protect her from those monsters. She owed him this much for saving her. She would do whatever it took to keep him safe, even if it meant seeing him back to his own time. The thought of him returning to his own time, was like an ax slicing through her middle. How had her feelings for him grown so quickly? The last thought squeezed her heart, but she couldn’t worry on any of that now. She needed to focus on getting rid of Sheriff Fredette.
As she unlatched the last of several locks, Caroline squinted her eyes as though she struggled to adjust to the light, and opened the door. The sheriff stood there with one of his deputies on her front porch. “Sheriff Fredette. Is there anything wrong?” she said and added a yawn for effect.
“Peggy Anderson tells me you worked her shift tonight at the library tonight?”
“Yes, I covered Peggy’s shift. Have you talked to her? Is she okay, because she sounded horrible on the phone? Nothing has happened to her has it?”
“Well, I
don’t want to alarm you, Caroline. I knew your grandmother well, and I know how easily frightened you can be, but….”
“What is it?” She placed a hand to her throat and hoped the concern in her voice sounded authentic. “Peggy’s okay, isn’t she?”
“Yes, yes. I spoke with Peggy earlier. I thought she may have witnessed something on her way home tonight, but she told me you covered her shift.” He looked back at the younger deputy. “I don’t want to alarm you, Caroline but a man was stabbed in the alley near Augie’s tonight.”
She broke out in a cold sweat at his words, as the urge to faint increased. The sheriff grimaced at her reaction, and she hoped he mistook it for shock. Images of a man lying in a pool of blood flashed through her mind. Either way, her astonishment sounded real enough for own ears. “Oh my God. Is it someone from Harper Cove?”
“No. We’ve never seen him before. Did you walk home in the storm tonight?
“Yes, I did. I was soaked through by the time I got home.” She released a nervous chuckle.
“Did you see anything out of the ordinary?”
His question rocked her to the core, and she hoped he couldn’t hear the quake in her voice as she responded. “See something? No, nothing unusual. I was in a rush to get out of the rain, and the dark. I didn’t pay much attention around me.”
A grim look covered the sheriff’s face, as he nodded his. “Well, the reason I came to you first…is, we found your wallet in the courtyard near the town hall.”
All she could hear was the beat of her own heart filling her ears. Her blood raced so fast and sucked the air from her lungs. The sheriff’s words played repeatedly in her head. My wallet. I must have dropped when I tripped. Hold it together Caroline.
When she felt calm enough to respond she said, “Oh. It must have fallen from my bag when I tri-pp-ppp-ed…over a tree root. I thought I grabbed everything, but it was so dark. I must have missed it.” Stutter a little more, Caroline. Afraid she royally screwed things up, Caroline stuck her leg out and pointed to her knees. “See.” She winced. “I scraped them up pretty good and my hands.” She pushed her palms into the sheriff’s face.
In response, the sheriff nodded his head and said, “I see. Well, if you recall anything, please get in touch with me, Caroline. I don’t want you to panic, but until we find out what’s happened tonight, make sure you keep your doors and windows locked and don’t let anybody in you don’t recognize.”
“I always do sheriff, but thank you. I’ll be extra careful.”
Time slowed, as Caroline shut the front door and relocked the deadbolt. With her back to the door, she leaned against the wall and spotted the wet and muddied backpack on her grandmother’s ancient coffee table. Patches of gray dirt clung to the bag, as the mud dried in the warmth of the tiny apartment.
There were two options, and neither was to her liking. When Ian appeared, there had been no time to get all the details about his appearance. The past several hours passed quickly, but if what Ian said was true…the book brought him here, it must be able to send him back, right? If he stayed, she’d lose him to the prison system, and if he returned home, she’d never see him again. Am I destined to always lose those I care about?
Tears cascaded along her cheek, as she slid down the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest and placed her head upon them as all the hurt, sadness, and anger flowed from the depths of her soul. Maybe it was time she admitted to herself that happiness would never find her in this lifetime. Unable to maintain her reserve any longer, she released a torrent of tears that she could no longer contain. She listened as another piece of her already damaged heart fell and shattered within. Soon there would be nothing left.
Chapter Fourteen
Lavender wafted in the air around him, as he lay upon a billowy cloud. A fog filled Ian’s head, as he stirred and attempted to open his eyes. As he rolled to his side, he met with a familiar floral scent wafting off the pillow he laid his head upon. Why was the scent familiar? Images of rich, brown locks cascading down a slender back, and stopping at the full curve of a woman’s hips had him fully alert. A heartbeat later the entire night came flooding back to the forefront of his mind. Caroline!
How much time had passed since the knock at her door interrupted their powerful kiss? When Ian entered the room, he made out the silhouette of the bed at the center of the room. It all came back. At her insistence, he hid in her bedchamber until Caroline talked to this sheriff person. This was her time, her realm and in this, she knew what was best. If he were in his own time, Ian would have readily admitted he ran the man in the alley through with his sword. Trained by his grandfather, he learned at a young age that his duty as a warrior and as a laird was to protect those who were unprotected. He hadn’t hesitated a heartbeat, when he witnessed that piece of shite’s hands all over Caroline’s body.
Sounds of a faint weeping came from the other side of the door and drew his attention. The rapid beat of his heart escalated, as Ian recognized the sound of Caroline’s cry. In one-step, his hand was upon the knob of the chamber door, and he was ready to throw it open when his warrior instincts returned. What if she was not alone? He needed to tread carefully in her world. It took all his control, not to tear the door off its hinges and go to her straightway. With a slow, gentle twist, the knob unlatched without a sound, and he opened the door a crack. The corridor that led to her solar was still lit, but all remained still in the other room. No voices. Just the aching sound of her sobs reaching out to him from the other room. Whether this sheriff remained, no longer mattered to Ian. With long, even strides he walked out of the darkened room and followed the sound that cut him to the core.
When he turned the corner into her living space, he found Caroline sitting upon the floor, with her legs tucked up against her chest, and her head upon her knees. The mournful whimper was not from a physical pain, but emotional. Without hesitating, he went down on his haunches before her and gently lifted her face to his own.
“What has happened, Mo Ggraidh? Why do ye cry? Are ye hurt?” He used his thumb to swipe at a falling tear.
Caroline shook her head, and valiantly swiped the remainder of the tears from her cheeks, and stood.
“Do not think to persuade me otherwise, Caroline. I would know what has transpired to put ye in such a state.” Ian examined her for any injuries, but could see none. “Ye do not appear to be hurt.”
“It’s nothing.” She rose to her feet and walked away from his questioning stare.
He watched her pick up the empty mugs and said. “Will ye no’ tell me what yer visitor had to say? Were ye correct in yer assessment? They found the filthy scoundrel in the alley?”
Caroline stopped in the doorway that led to the kitchen. “Yes, they found him…and my wallet.” She held up a folded pouch. He must have looked confused because she explained further. “It has all my identification…my license.”
“I do no’ understand your words, Caroline. Li-cense…what is this.”
“It has my name and address on it…Ian, it proves I was there.”
He ran a hand through his thick hair and cursed. “Jesu! Are ye all right?” He finally understood her concern.
She kept her eyes down and nodded.
He walked over to where she stood and took the empty cups from her hands. He placed them on the small table next to his sword, and her mud-covered satchel. When she continued to avoid eye contact, he lifted her face to his. “Is that the reason for your tears, Mo Ghraidh?”
“What does that mean…Mo Ghraidh?” She struggled with the dialect.
A gentle smile pulled at his lips. “In English, it means My Love.” He swallowed hard and waited for her reaction to his words. Then for the second time this night, Caroline fell into his arms and sobbed. His large, strong hands stroked her back and soothed her with his words. “Hush, now. I do not want ye to worry about the sheriff.”
When the cries waned down to the occasional hiccup, Ian drew her toward the settee, sat, and pulled her onto
his lap. “Now that ye have had another good cry…will ye not tell me what has upset ye?”
What was she to tell him? Leave. Don’t come back. Just the thought of saying those words to Ian, made her heart shatter all over again. The more time Caroline spent with him, only prolonged the torture of his leaving. “It is not safe for you here. I have managed to hold off the sheriff, but eventually he will find you.” She swallowed back the achy lump forming in her throat. “You must go back to your own time, it’s the only way you’ll be safe.”
“Aye, but….”
“There can’t be any buts, Ian. You would be miserable here in our prison system.” She explained further, when a look of confusion crossed his face. “Like a dungeon, Ian. They would lock you away and…” The watery sound of her words stopped, and she took a deep breath. “Please Ian.”
“Come with me.” He held out his hand toward her.
“What did you say?” She didn’t fully comprehend his words.
“I said come with me, Mo Ghraidh. What have ye here? Ye have no family. No friends.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“Do not ask me to explain. Something from deep within my soul tugs at me…at my heart. Can ye look me straight in the eyes and tell me ye do not feel it too? Tis why ye were crying when I came upon ye earlier, is it not?”
“No…Yes…I don’t know.” She turned her face away.
What Ian asked was impossible. Could she leave everything behind and vanish into another time? Did she want to go with him?
“Look at me Caroline.” He placed a thumb beneath her chin and turned it to meet his face. “Tell me ye do not feel the pull between us. I canno’ say I understand it, but I have enough faith to see where it will lead. Do ye? I have been here less than one eve, and have seen the fear in yer eyes. Yer self-imposed loneliness. Come with me and let me give ye the protection ye deserve. I would do everything in my power to see the look of fear and darkness removed from your eyes.”
Kissed by the Laird (First Ladies of the Fae Book 1) Page 13
